An aerial view of the damaged Gran Marical de Ayacucho highway in the state of Miranda outside Caracas

An aerial view of the damaged Gran Marical de Ayacucho highway in the state of Miranda outside Caracas, Venezuela, Dec. 1, 2010. Thousands of Venezuelans fled their homes after landslides and swollen rivers killed at least 21 people and threatened to cause more damage.

An aerial view of the damaged Gran Marical de Ayacucho highway in the state of Miranda outside Caracas December 1, 2010. Thousands of Venezuelans fled their homes after landslides and swollen rivers killed at least 21 people and threatened to cause more damage. REUTERS/Miranda Government/Handout (VENEZUELA – Tags: TRANSPORT ENVIRONMENT DISASTER IMAGES OF THE DAY) THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. IT IS DISTRIBUTED, EXACTLY AS RECEIVED BY REUTERS, AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS – RTXVAR7